Jasper POV

I spent every night wishing I could just die. I didn't know what to be without her by my side. Everyone tried to help, but we were all in a state of broken pain. I knew it had something to do with the letter, but Edward was away when she got it, and she did a marvelous job of hiding her thoughts from him. He beat himself up for it I knew, but I was in no state to try and make him feel better. In the beginning they were all just waiting for me to run off. It was Rose that really convinced me to stay. I know that if it had come down to it I would have returned, it was not Alice that kept me here anymore, it was the family. But being in the house, her scent, her memory, it was a lot to handle.

Bella and Nessie were more of a wreck then I though. Ness had lost her closest aunt, and Bella her best friend. But Bella was also the only one who understood what I was going through. Edward had chosen to leave her once, as Alice left me. And no matter how much I told myself it wasn't by choice, a greater part of e new the truth, and I was left wondering what I had done wrong.

She left no trail for me to follow. No leads, no notes. I was flipping everything upside down trying to see what she may have hidden about why she left, but the house was empty, and if I didn't see her shadow hiding in every corner, it would be as if she was never actually there in the first place. Three months was a long time to go without your second half, and I didn't want to last much longer. I feared the worst, that Maria came one night and abducted her, but there was no logical thought in that theory. Maria's scent would have attracted attention, Alice wouldn't just disappear, there was always more than one person, and she never hunted alone.

"Jasper." My head shot up at hearing the gentle voice, but it as just Bella, it was always just Bella now.

"Hey." I tried to calm myself down, stop searching, stop panicking.

She entered my room and sat on the bed that didn't need to be there, and began to twiddle her fingers. She was nervous. I could tell, maybe she wanted me to be able to tell. She was no longer nervous around me, our relationship at really grown this past three months, and that was one of the only things I could be thankful for. But if it was at Alice's expense I didn't need any of them to love me.

"Bella? What's up?" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a note. I nearly threw up as I saw the writing that filled it.

It's probably long overdue that you find it. I've hidden it pretty well, but this is my last precautionary measure. If I'm not back by time you find this, they probably killed me. But just in case I'm still alive, go, well come, to Volterra. That is where I should be by time you find this. I don't know why they called me. But I know I need to go. Jazz, they threatened you, and I couldn't live knowing that your life was on the line. I'm so sorry if I'm dead, if I'm alive, I'm probably screwed anyway. So hurry.

Love lots. Like more than you'll ever know.

Alice

P.S. I'm sorry if this freaked you out, Ness, but I knew you'd only use this bag on certain occasions.

Edward burst into the room, eyes open wide.

"Volterra." He breathed it out like it would be the answer to all of our problems, which it was. He rushed to Bella and pulled her into his arms, looking at me over his shoulder and nodding. He was trusting me to remain calm. If I lost it everyone would.

"When do we leave?" I asked. It wasn't an if, we just had to find a plane ticket.

Emmett came up next, his face more serious than I had ever sen before. "Now. Plane leaves in two hours."

Everyone hit frenzy mode. I was downstairs in a second, filling Carlisle in on everything over the phone, he said he'd be home faster than lightning, and as I hung up Jake was pounding on the door, I threw it open, looking at him.

"Renesme called. Alice?" No matter how much they pretended not to notice Alice and Jake loved each other, and as much as I hated him being around, it comforted me to know that Alice had another protector who would keep her safe.

"Jacob!" Nessie ran over and threw her arms around him. They were almost the same height now, but Nessie was really done growing. She buried her face in her neck, and I turned away not letting the jealousy swell up inside me. It hit me then that I was subconsciously putting everyone on edge, so i stopped what I was doing, and focused on calm, We needed to be relaxed when we entered Volterra or they would never give us Alice back, and that was something I could not allow.

I heard the tires of Carlisle's car spin into the driveway, and we al immediately stooped when he entered. Rose spoke first.

"Time to go." Edward was giving instructions to Jake, and I realized then the Renesme wasn't coming with us. She waved goodbye with a single tear streaming don, and we ran out to the cars, taking off before anyone had time to think about where to sit.

I was driver, Edward next to me, Bella in the back. emIf she's dead, Edward, I'm not coming back./em I thought, glancing his way out of the corner of my eye. He nodded. He knew. I knew he was going to try to convince me. They all were. But it wouldn't work.

"Jasper..." Bella spoke softly from the back. "You've lived this long." Was all she said. I just nodded as I drove on toward the airport. I could not live knowing she was dead.

Alice POV

She left me there, shaking and whimpering, making sounds as if I was sobbing. I think I was unconscious a few times, but I'm still not sure if that could even happen. I was wishing I could die though. Especially when Michael walked in, his smile as artificial as ever.

"Alice. You look sick." I wanted to spit in his face. He was the reason I din't remember anything about my human life. It was all his fault, he left me, and I would hate forever for it.

"Wh-wh-what-t-t Do-o you Wa-a-nt?" My shaking was ruining my speech. He laughed once, a pity laugh.

"You." I felt myself tighten, wanting to throw up, wishing that was possible as well.

"N-no. I-I-I'm tak-k-ken." I sounded like I was shivering, which I might have been . Details are a tad fuzzy from then on.

But he did laugh, and he did walk over to me, so I screamed, and bit him, again. He struck me across the head, latching his teeth onto my throat, squeezing my arms so tight I was sure he was going to pull me apart. And then I am sure I blacked out.

strongJasper POV/strong

Rushing into Volterra, we went in with a bang. And that was probably a bad idea in the long run, but it certainly got Aro's attention.

"What? What is the meaning of- Carlisle! Welcome." I hated this man with every part of my being, and I made it my personal mission to make everyone feel the same way.

Carlisle was about to respond when a vampire ran out from a back room, holding his wrist. Edward tightened next to me.

"Michael?" Aro swiftly went up to the man, and smiled slightly before looking serious again. Michael's face was stuck in a wince as he held his hand out, the bite marks clearly visible from where I was standing. I stifled a laugh. Someone bit him.

Then something hit me. Edward leaned down next to me and whispered in my ear

"She's here. He saw her. But I can't her her..." He straightened up again when Jane and Caius entered the room, looking as angry as ever.

"What do you want?" Jane's voice was higher then I remembered.

Carlisle smiled, always polite. "Alice."

Jane laughed and Aro tried to silence her with a glare, but she didn't catch on "You don't wan her now." I took a step forward, ready to grab her, but Edward was already holding my arms. Michael and Aro were whispering, and only Edward was able to 'hear' what they were saying.

"That's a great idea!" Edward spoke so we could all hear clearly, and Aro's head snapped up, as if suddenly remembering Edward could hear their whole talk. He looked bitter at first then nodded to Michael.

"You heard him. Go. Do it." Michael left still rubbing his arm, as Aro walked over and spoke to Jane, Edward's head snapped in their direction.

"Like Hell." He let out a bitter laugh, Aro just looked surprised again.

"Edward, I'd appreciate it if you kept your comments to yourself. I will do what i want to do in my castle." He raised his eyebrows as if challenging Edward.

He took the bait. "Over my dead body." He retorted thinking he had the upper hand.

"That can be arranged." Bella grabbed Edwards arm as Aro turned and began to talk to Jane again.

Then the doors were pushed open, and Michael came in holding something. Both Edward and Emmett were now holding my arms, and I knew what he was carrying. Jane was looking at me waiting, so I tried my hardest not to give her any reactions.

Michael walked up to Aro and stopped, Aro looked and nodded at the ground in the middle of the room, he went over and laid her down.

She looked like she was having a seizure, and it terrified me. Her eyes, half closed her blacker then I'd ever thought possible, and I knew that she had to be close to dying, if it was possible to die of starvation.

her shaking slowed, and she turned to look at me.

"J-j-jazz-z?"